Make My Day law for business advances in Colorado
DENVER (AP) — Colorado takes pride in its Western entrepreneurial spirit — and that extends to the belief of some lawmakers that business owners should be able to use deadly force against anyone who tries to take what's theirs.
It's an idea that conjures Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry, and its supporters have taken liberties with the hardboiled character's famous line in naming their measure "Make My Day Better."
The state already has a law that allows people in homes to gun down invaders, and the bill's sponsor, Republican state Rep. Chris Holbert, is asking lawmakers to weigh: "Are you worth somehow less in the workplace than you are in your residence?"
Opponents, including some in law enforcement, consider the plan an overreach.
"This bill gives business owners a license to kill when nothing is threatened other than property," Democratic state Rep. Claire Levy said.
Most states have some variation of a self-defense law. In legislatures from Alaska to Oklahoma, lawmakers are considering adopting or extending such protections...
...Republicans found motivation for the proposal about five years ago after a Denver nightclub owner shot an intruder and was charged with attempted murder, and have unsuccessfully introduced a version of the measure in several sessions.
Holbert said the bill's opponents raised concerns when the state passed a "Make My Day" law back in the '80s.
"The opponents to that law were quite sure that we would have an increase in people just being shot on doorsteps, and that hasn't been the case," he said.
Holbert said, "This isn't a blanket coverage to do bad things."
I remember when states we passing concealed carry laws the usual suspects were screaming about how we would have blooding the streets, etc. I see how well that worked out. Now in places where handguns are basically banned (Chicago, New York, Washington DC) it's safe as hell right?
I got a suggestion for people who are concerned about this. You don't want to be shot by a business owner, don't break into his business. Simple and it works.
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